Akin takes home UALR Women's Golf Classic crown

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Karisa Akin earned her second career low medalist honor on Tuesday, recording a second consecutive under-par round with a one-under 71 at the UALR Women's Golf Classic at Diamante Country Club in Little Rock, Ark.

"To have two rounds under par and to finish under is obviously a testament to her," head coach Chris Adams said. "She avoided the mistakes out there, hit the ball well, and I'm very proud of her."

Akin tied her own personal best three round total, ending with a one-under 215, just one stroke off of Taryn Durham's school record, set in 2007.

The Elizabethtown, Ky., last took home an individual tournament championship last fall at the Blue Raider Invitational.

As a team, Middle Tennessee finished just two strokes off the lead, tying for third (out of 19) after carding a 10-over 298 to finish the tournament at 35-over. UTEP and Tulsa finished ahead of the Blue Raiders at 33-over and 34-over, respectively.

"We had the goal of winning, but we just came up a couple strokes short," Adams said. "We made a lot of putts, and this is just going to help make us better as we play in future tournaments. It's always exciting to be close and watching the scoreboard on the final day. We gave it our all and everyone contributed."

Both Ashley Haggard and Allie Knight tied for 22nd in the 99-player field, finishing at nine-over. Knight tied a career-best with an even-par 72 in the third round.

"She's not happy about finishing bogey-bogey, but she's one of the reasons we were right there in the hunt at the end," Adams said. "She's just so consistent and steady that it's unbelievable. She had it at two- or three-under almost all day. I'm proud of her."

Olivia Love shaved three strokes off of her rounds on Monday with a five-over 77 to tie for 72nd at 21-over, and Natalie Chrisopulos tied for 81st at 25-over.

Playing as an individual, Haley Cothran tied for 87th, finishing at 28-over.

The Blue Raiders will now enjoy a bit of a break before picking up the clubs again at the Samford Women's Intercollegiate next month in Oneota, Ala.

TEAM SCORES
1. UTEP - 304-300-293=897
2. Tulsa - 297-303-297=898
T3. Middle Tennessee - 299-302-298=899
T3. Eastern Michigan - 302-305-292=899
T5. UALR - 300-301-299=900
T5. Oral Roberts - 295-301-304=900
7. North Texas - 304-300-303=907
8. ULM - 300-300-309=909
9. Arkansas State - 305-306-299=910
10. Troy - 312-298-302=912

MT SCORES (of 99)
1. Karisa Akin - 74-70-71=215
T22. Ashley Haggard - 71-76-78=225
T22. Allie Knight - 74-79-72=225
T72. Olivia Love - 80-80-77=237
T81. Natalie Chrisopulos - 86-77-78=241

T87. Haley Cothran - 80-83-81=244

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